Noho Pākari is a ‘sit and be fit’ gentle exercise programme to help people stay mobile and active.

For Kirihimete (Christmas) in 2024, a special hākari (banquet) was prepared for our Wairau and Waitohi Noho Pākari whānau, kaimahi and manuhiri.

Wikitoria MacDonald is Pūkenga Manaaki for Kōrua Kuia Wairau. She was there to celebrate with whānau and capture the aroha, koa (joy) and whakawhetai (gratitude) with her camera. See Wikitoria’s photos below and read her kōrero about the day, as follows:

By Wikitoria MacDonald

On 17 December we held our Christmas hākari with our Noho Pākari koroua and kuia in Wairau, at the Church of the Nativity in Waiharakeke (Blenheim).

Ka whiti mai te Rā, ka hari koa te ngākau!

Matua John Mutu and Daniel Salter arrived early to set up our hall while others decorated the tables and helped us prepare kai in the kitchen. The atmosphere was festive and lively.

Though I was busy moving between different jobs, I was also ordered by kaumātua to put on some music to keep our early arrivals entertained! There was a lovely air of expectation to the morning.

Once everyone had arrived and matua John had opened up our kaupapa in karakia, everyone took the opportunity to share their pepeha. Both the Waitohi and Wairau Noho Pākari groups had come together, so it was an appropriate time to kōrero. We then moved into singing waiata before Aunty Amo Poki from Waikawa (and myself on guitar) entertained everyone with some Honky Tonk piano and a few songs from the ‘50s.

After that, everyone enjoyed the full buffet table. Thanks to Te Piki Oranga we enjoyed a hot meal of chicken, pasta salads, green salads, roast potatoes, kumara and carrots, homemade stuffing, fried bread and gravy. I invited those who could to bring a kai koha, so our dessert table was full.

Upon hindsight I should have allocated a photographer for the day as I was so busy, but I still took lots of photos (below) of those people who gave me verbal consent to do so.

We tried to give presents to our kaumātua, but we ran out of time. They still loved their hākari, the fruit punch and entertainment and didn’t mind that we had run out of time for presents. Along with the good company, enjoyable meal and some light entertainment from both aunty Amo and the booster speaker, it was a good day for everyone.

The leftover kai was packed to take-away, which was appreciated. Overall, a great Christmas day celebration. Acknowledgment goes out to staff who helped throughout the year, our volunteer Jesse who couldn’t make it for the hākari, and of the service Te Piki Oranga ki Wairau. Thank you admin for the sharing of your ideas and tautoko, thank you Ricky Carr and thank you to my work colleagues who supported with whaiora tautoko.